Opera Scotland

Wally La Wally

Alfredo Catalani (born Lucca, 19 June 1854; died Milan, 7 August 1893)

Text

Luigi Illica

Source

Novel Die Geyer-Wally (1875) by Wilhelmine von Hillern

Premieres

First Performance: Milan (Teatro alla Scala), 20 January 1892.

First Performance in UK: Manchester (), 27 March 1919.

First Performance in Scotland: Glasgow (Theatre Royal), 15 May 1919.

Background

Catalani died at a sadly early age, and is perhaps the most important unfulfilled talent of his generation of Italian composers. His final opera, La Wally, in particular, is a much under-rated work, full of attractive music while also being effective dramatically. Wally's aria 'Ebben, ne andrò lontana' is one of the most atmospheric and justifiably popular pieces of its kind, though it is perhaps unfortunate that it comes so early in the work.